CASE REPORT Use of a Hydroconductive Dressing to Treat a Traumatic Avulsive Injury of the Face

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Traumatic avulsive injuries present complex therapeutic decisions. Radical and repeated debridement of all foreign material, necrotic tissue, bacteria, and deleterious chemicals followed by control of the bacterial bioburden and wound closure has been the gold standard. However, when such injuries occur in the face, the treatment requires modification. Specialized structures, nerves, and a maximum amount of tissue must be preserved. Topical antimicrobials may lead to dessication and further injury to tissue. Therefore, alternative treatments must be considered. Recently, a hydroconductive dressing has been demonstrated to decrease edema by removing excess exudate, to remove debris and necrotic tissue, and to decrease bacteria and deleterious cytokines in wounds. METHODS Regular dressings were done between 1 and 3 days by dedicated personnel, using a hydroconductive dressing. Following an initial conservative debridement and reconstruction while attempting to preserve as much of the normal structure as possible, the wounds were dressed with a hydroconductive dressing. RESULTS Using only selective conservative debridement following bony reconstruction and repeated hydroconductive dressing changes, this severe injury healed with preservation of the important facial features. No further extensive surgical procedures were required. On discharge, the patient was able to function well with a reasonably good aesthetic result. She was subsequently lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION This case report demonstrates that a hydroconductive dressing can be useful for traumatic avulsive injuries.